Lasting-machine



(No Modeli) 8 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' S. W. LADD.

LASTING MACHINE.

No. 564,931. Patented July 28, 1896.

71 6i 5?? Int anion h y Attorney.

(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 3.

S. W. LADD. LASTING momma.

No. 564,931. Patented July '28, 1896.

After/z ey.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE.

SHERMAN W. LADD, OF SOMERVILLF, MASSACHUSETTS.

LASTlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 564,931, dated July 28, 1896.

Application filed I annary 11, 1895. Serial No. 534,602. (No model.)

To all z-uhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SHERMAN XV. LADD, of Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and Commonwealth. of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Lasting-Machines, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

In the process of lasting boot and shoe uppers it is customary to plait the material at the toe, and sometimes at other parts of the shoe, and it becomes desirable, particularly if the material is thick, hard, or otherwise diilicult to manipulate, to slit the marginal edge of the material where the plaits are to be formed and superimpose the marginal edges of said slit-ted parts one upon the other, whereby the material is held more closely to the inner sole and presents a better surface for the outer sole. It is to a mechanism having for its object to perform this cutting or slitting of the upper automatically during the lasting operation that my present invention relates.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View showing the mechanism comprising this invention, and, f urther,showing the sections of the machine to which it has been applied, as herein described. Fig. 2 is a section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 of Fig. 1. Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional side elevations representing details, enlarged, described hereinafter. Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the cutter-blade detached. Fig. 7 is a perspective View showing the cutter mechanism in operation and portions of the tack-driving mechanism, referred to hereinafter. Fig. 8 is a perspective and shows the cutter-blade at the point of beginning its work of slit-ting the material.

As represented in the present instance, this my invention is designed with due regard to its application to that class of lasting-machines wherein a sin gle pair of gripping devices is employed for working the upper over the last. The last, with the inner sole and upper thereupon, is supported in the hands of the workmamhld up to and moved about for presenting portions of the upper to the grippers successively, as the lasting process may require, said lastiu g process being completed by a plurality of operations of the lasting devices applied to different parts of the upper at different times progressively. Each section of the upper, it will be understood, when duly placed upon the inner sole is fastened thereto by a repetitiously-operating fastening mechanism, suitably arranged to perform its work of fastening each section of the upper to the inner sole preparatory for the next successive operation of the lasting devices. A lasting-machine of this character is shown and described in United States Letters Patent No. i i-3,922, and reference thereto may be had for description of the parts not herein shown and described. As a further means of understanding the lastingmachine as subsequentlyimproved and modified, reference may be had, if desired, to United States Letters Patent, Nos. 510,977, 510,973, 510,975, and 500,141, wherein are shown and described certain improvements and modifications thereof. Said machine comprises a single set of upper-working dc- Vices, including gripper members for seizing and holding the upper while it is turned and overlaid upon the inner sole. To that end the jaws are connected with supportingshanks 13 15, Fig. 1. A collar 17 operates to hold the shanks in sliding contact. The gripper-jaws being supported at the bottom ends of the shanks, respectively, are opened and closed by reciprocating the shank 15 longitudinally, for which purpose the shank 15 is supported at its top end in a rocking lever. (Not shown.)

The shoe is prepared for lasting by first putting the upper onto the last, drawing it over at the toe and preferably at the sides also, Where it is secured with tacks or other fastening devices in each of said places. The last, with the upper and innersole thereupon, is then taken in hand by the workman and held upwardly to the rest 12, Fig. 1, and laterally to the edge guide 10, where it is in po sition for the gripper-jaws to seize upon the upper. The gripping mechanism, it will be understood, is lifted and depressed and moved about as a whole, so that in addition to the opening and closing movements of the gripper-jaws additional movements thereof are effected, whereby they are moved downwardly and forwardly to grip the edge of the upper, then upwardly for straining it, then backward ly and downwardly to place the upper upon the inner sole and at times to make a further movement laterally for plaiting the upper or laying it upon the inner sole in plaits. This additional movement of the grippers laterally is governed by the workman through a mechanism so arranged that the grippers are caused to move to one side of the vertical line for plaiting the upper in one direction and to the opposite side of said line for plaiting the upper in the other direction.

In United States Letters Patent No. 523,939 is shown and described the mechanism for causing these lateral plaiting movements of the pincers and in connection therewitha cutter mechanism for cutting or slitting the edge of the upper. Reference thereto may be had as a further means for understanding this my present invention, which is of a character similar to and mainly designed for obviating difficulties incident to that construction, also for obtaining results not obtainable therewith, the operation of the lasting devices being the same in both cases.

In the mechanism referred to (Letters Patent No. 523,939) the cutter-blade is arranged to move in a vertical recess suitably formed in the gripper members. In the. operation thereof the slitting or cutting of the upper is effected while it is gripped between the gripper members, the cutter-blade being made to pass through the gripping-plane and caused to cross-cut the upper vertically, after which the slitted parts are superimposed upon the inner sole by a subsequent movement of the grippers laterally. In certain classes of work this mechanism has been found very satisfactory, while in other classes of work objectionable results are developed thereby. For

example, in thick material a pucker is apt to form at the terminal or union end of the slit, due to thickness of said material where the parts are superimposed. In operation of that mechanism the slit is made and both marginal edges of the slitted section are held be tween the gripper members firmly, while said members move over the last and laterally to superimpose a section of the upper slitted by a preceding operation of the mechanism,

wherefore it is n ot possible therewith to super-- impose the parts while the material is held under the identical strain whereunder the cutting operation is made for separating the parts to be superimposed. Operation of the machine is found to strain and in weak materials to sometimes rupture the material at the union or terminal end of the slit. To obviate this and other difficulties incident to classes of work and provide for superimposing the material while it is under the cutting strain substantially has been the object, primarily, of this my present invention.

As shown in the present instance, the cutter mechanism includes two cutter-blades formed as shown in Fig. 6. At one side of the gripper members is located one of said cutter-blades, and at the opposite side thereof is located the other cutter-blade. To that end the bottom member of the grippers is recessed for receiving the shanks of the cutter-blades and permits movement thereof longitudinally for the cutting operations. In its most retracted position the cutter-blade a is in posi tion to begin its operation at the marginal edge of the material, as shown in Fig. 8. Its forward movement operates to cut the material from the marginal edge thereof inwardly to the union'or terminal end of the slit, as shown in Fig. 1. The cutting operation is made to take place after the gripper members have seized upon the upper and hold it partly overturned upon the inner sole. The cutter-blade is inclined relatively to the gripper members, so as to cross-cut the upper obliquely, whereby in the cutting operation the contiguous edge faces of the slitted part are beveled, the terminal or union end of the slit being thereby fashioned, so that the parts may be superimposed without puckering or undesirable thickness at its junction. The cutter-blade is located at the side of the gripper members, whereby in the cutting operation one marginal edge of the slitted part is released from the grippers. Relatively to the gripper members it is inclined with its greatest distance from the gripper members above the holding-face thereof, whereby in the cutting operation the contiguous edges of the slitted part are beveled with the bevel-edge face of the part held by the grippers overlapping the other part, whereby the part thus held by the gripper devices is adapted for superimposing upon the other part by a lat eral movement of the gripper devices while holding the same.

The cutter-blade is preferably located at a slight distance from the side of the upperworking devices, Fig. 8, to the end that as the cutting operation proceeds the leather,

being released thereby, adapts itself to the cutting operation, particularly to the action of the cutter-blade in making the oblique cut of a more pronounced character at the terminal end of the slit. For this reason also the mechanisms are timed, so that the cutting operation is made to take place while the upper-holding devices engage and hold the upper partly overturned upon the inner sole. The cutting operation takes place approximately near to the fastening device, whereby the preceding section of the upper is fastened to the inner sole, while the material is held on one side by the said fastening device and on the other side by the upper-holding device, Fig. 8. This arrangement enables the material, during the cutting operation, to change under action of the cutter-blade, whereby the oblique character of the out is made most pronounced at the terminal or union end of the slit and the parts better adapted for being superimposed one upon the other without the liability of a pucker at said terminal or union end of the slit.

The material, it will be observed, at one side of the slit is released by the cutting operation from the upper-holding devices and is held in place to the inner sole by its fastening device, while the other part is superimposed thereupon by afurther movement of the upper-holding devices, after which said superimposed part is secured to the inner sole by a securing mechanism, Fig. 7. Said mechanism is shown in part in Fig. '7, and its construction and operation are fully described in United States Letters Patent above referred to.

The cutter-blades, it will be understood, are preferably connected with the upperholding devices. To this end the bottom member of the gripper device is recessed for receiving the cutter-blades. Said blades are arranged one on either side of the gripper members, to the end that one blade may be employed for cutting the upper at one side of a the holding devices and the other member employed for cutting the upper at the other side thereof. Said blades are movable separately, to the end that one may be employed for cutting the upper when the plait is to be formed on one side of the upper-holding devices and that the other may be employed for cutting the upper at the other side of the holding devices when the plait is to be formed at that point, whereby the material is superimposed in opposite directions from the marginal edge toward the center on opposite sides of the toe part of the shoe.

In the cutting operation the blades are moved forwardly and backwardly in their respective sockets. The movements of the cutter'blade for cutting the upper are made to take place automatically by suitable driver connections. In the present instance said driver connections comprise mechanism as follows: The rock-shaft a is supported in a sleeve a which sleeve is supported in the machine-frame B. Said shaft a carries an arm a in the top end of which is a pin a located to bear upon cam enlargement a", which cam is fixed upon a collar a supported to turn with the motion of the driving-shaft D of the machine. At the opposite end of said shaft a is an arm a and a spring a Said mechanism is operated by the cam a to lift the arm a and is moved back to place when released by cam a. by the spring or The arm a carries on its end a buffer a to engage with the machine-frame for stopping the mechanism against action of the spring a Adjacent to the shank members of the gripper devices are vertical bars a a Said bars are held in sliding contact with said shank members by the collar 17 to permit vertical reciprocating movements. The bar a. has at its bottom end toothed engagement bar e connects in a similar manner with another crank-lever similarly pivoted to the shank 13, which engages in a similar manner with the cutter-blade located at the opposite side of the gripper members. It will now be understood that an upward movement of the bar a operates to drive the cutter-blade forward to perform the cutting operation and the downward movement thereof retracts the cutter-blade to its rearward or normal position. In a similar manner the vertical reciprocation of the bar c0 operates to carry forward and backward the cutter-blade a, located at the opposite side of the gripper members. Upward movement of the bar 0. is effected by an upward movement of the arm a This upward movement is made to take place against the spring a, whereby the bar is made to move downwardly when released and held in its downward position with the cutter-blade ready for the cutting operation. Upward movement of the bar 13 is eifected also by an upward movement of the arm a. and is moved and held downwardly by a spring similar to spring at.

It will be understood that the arm a is located so that its engaging end is between the bars c1 so long as the upper-holding devices move forwardly and backwardly in a straight line over the last. A movement of the upper-holding devices, however, to one side carries the mechanism into position for the arm a to engage the bar a while a movement in the opposite direction places the mechanism for the arm a to engage the arm 01, These lateral or side movements of the holding devices are effected by a mechanism preferably arranged to be under the control of the workman, as described in United States Letters Patent above referred to.

Pivo tally connected with the machineframc is a handle-lever 61. the top end whereof engages a slide, Fig. 5, suitably connected with the sleeve a whereby the operator is enabled to effect a longitudinal movement of the sleeve in one direction for placing the mechanism thereby supported in operation with the cam a when cutting of the upper is desired and in the opposite direction for moving said mechanism out of operative relation with cam a when the cutting operations are to be discontinued for a time, during which lateral movements of the upper-holding devices may be desired for plaiting the upper without cutting the same.

In the present instance two cutter-blades are shown located at opposite sides of the upper-holding devices. This arrangement is preferred, because in the operation of the upper-holding devices they are caused to move laterally in one direction for plaiting the upper at one side of the toe and laterally in the opposite direction for plaiting the upper at the other side of the toe. In applying the invention to a machine constructed to operate in one direction only for plaiting the upper a single cutter-blade is all that may be required.

V: posits sides of the nppereworking devicesthe' bladesrbeing separately "movable, and acts-i atingappliances arranged. fcrmoving the'cnttcr'biadcsto cut the upper indifferent time relations, substantially as described;--

:2.-:.ln:-a lasting-machine, in combination;

Iclaiin and desire by Letters: Patent to secure- V 11. Ina lastingenachine, in combination,

cthe :gripper-m'emhersyarecessin orient the I upperflvorlring devices for Workingthe upper o'verithe last, a cuttermechanism including iaplnralityof cutter-Glades supported suit- I ably for cutting the upper at opposite sides: .of the upper-Working:devices, the blades-be 'uing movable separatelyi'and aisingle act aating imechanismarranged for moving the cuttee bladesfto cutithenpper in differenttime re xilations,'snbstantiaiiy asdescribed; i' i A'machine of the character indicated, having, in combination;'nppereworking. de vices; cutter mechanism includingzacnttel blade supported suitanly forislitting therna 1 terial atonewsideof and slightlyedistant from 40 gripper members, a cutter-bladesupportedtc slide in said recess for cntting theupperat 5' 'oneside-of the gripper members, and means to move thev cutter-blade ein-thecutting opera tion, substantiallyas described.

In alastingm achine, uppenworhin g de: vices, arpluralityof -cntter-bladesandi means for actuating thercnttenbladcs; said meansinclu dingltherockshaft, a carryin gearm', Ciandroclrin connections,snbstantiallyas de scribed; r r

' .4; in lasting machine, in combination,

the upper-Working devices, driver connections for moving the cutter-blade progressively in the slitting operation, from the point of beginning its operation at the marginal edge of the upper material to the terminal or union end of the slit, and actuating appliances adapted for moving the upper-holding devices into holding the material strained over the last, during the slitting operation and continuously thereafter, While the parts separated by said slitting operation are superimposed one upon the other, substantially as described.

(3. A lasting-machine, having in combination, upper-Working devices for Working the upper over the last, actuating appliances imparting the necessary movements to said devices and repeating the movements thereof at intervals during the lasting operation, a cutter mechanism provided With cutter means to be moved for slitting the upper at opposite sides of the upper-Working devices, and actuating mechanism for moving the cutter means to perform the slitting operations, said actuating mechanism having provision by suitable means to operate in time relations npper'cver ihelast actu ating appliances int partingthenecessarymovements to said ties vicesand' repeating the movements thereof,

at intervals duringthezlasting operation. a

"cutter mechanismprovidedwithcuttermeans' 1230 .7

cutting operations, '-descrilied.

1.8.: A. lasting-machine having, in ceinbina tionmpper-working devices, actnatingapplie 1 'anccs'formotdngsaiddevicesforwardly and. I zhaclrwardly andlaterallyattimes in opp csite 7 directions, instraining and manip ulating the 7.

upper overthe last-,- a'cuttermechanism pr vided with cutter means permitting move-i for causing the'cutter means tomovednrine" one eperationicf the uppersvorking devices.

for slitting the upper at onesiderthereof and upper working devices; a cutter mechanism: 'iincluding a' plurality of cntterehlades supv portedsuitably for cutting thezupper'at op-w the other 'SltlfiitllETGQf, substantially'as; do

scribed.. r V

7 7 A lasting-machine, havirw in GGlllblllEh tion, suppenworking:devices forxtvorlzing the to be rnoved for slitifingthe ripper at oppcsite sides of: the npper working devices, and: ac

hie by the: workman, to start" and stopth tuating me'chanism forwmoving the cutter. a. means to'p'erform the slittin goperations,said I 7' actuating mechanism having provision; by suitablemeans-tooperatein time reiations for causing thecntter means to moveduring .7 I one operatien ofthe,upper-Working devices. .1 for slitting the upper atonesidetherecf and to move-duringanothercperation'of the up I pereworlring devices for; slitting the upper at the other side thereof andmeans, controlla-:

atwilh substantially :as

:ment for slitting the upperat ppposite sides of the uppe-rav'orkin devices, driver ccnncce the slitting operations, and a suitable connection, Wherethrough a movement of the upper-Working devices to one side operates to set the parts in Work relation to perform the slitting operation at one side thereof, and a movement of the upper-Working devices to the opposite side operates to set the part in work relation to perform the slitting operation at the other side thereof, substantially as described.

9. In a lasting-machine: upper-Working devices, actuating appliances having provision for causing said devices to strain the upper overthe last, a cutter-blade at the side of the upper-Working devices having an inclination relatively to the holding-plane thereof and movable for slitting the upper While it is strained thereby and connections for automatically moving the cutter-blade to slit the upper, substantially as described.

Signed at Lynn this 30th day of November. A. D. 1894:.

SHERMAN W. LADD.

Witnesses:

C. B. TUTTLE, E. E. HAMILL.

tions for moving thecuttermeans toperform ITO 

